Primaries Dispute: Lawyer Cautions NDC Against Enugu Candidate Declaration

A lawyer in Enugu State, Aroh Dominic, has cautioned the national leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, against declaring candidates for elective positions in the state, on the grounds of alleged irregularities in the party’s primary elections.

The warning, it said, comes at a time of increasing controversy over the outcome of the NDC primaries held last week. Attention is now focused on the party’s national secretariat which is expected to release the final list of candidates.

Aroh, who wrote on behalf of an NDC member, Idoko Chidozie, alleged in a letter to the National Chairman of the party that there was no primary election in Nsukka and Igbo-Eze South Local Government Areas for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and governorship positions.

The lawyer said members of the party gathered at designated venues in both local government areas in expectation of the primaries but no party officials turned up to conduct the exercise.

He said there are aspirants and supporters of the party, but there are no party officials to hold a valid primary election.

Aroh also alleged that some aspirants later organised separate exercises, which officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the police and other relevant agencies reportedly indicated would not be recognised.

The lawyer said that if the party tries to announce candidates for the affected posts, it will be taken to court.

He also accused the party of planning to parade candidates even though it allegedly failed to conduct primaries in the two local government areas.

It gave the party 24 hours to explain itself and threatened legal action if the demands were not met.

Among the reliefs sought are the refund of monies allegedly paid by aspirants, sanctions against those responsible for the alleged irregularities and an order preventing any beneficiary of the process from being recognised as a candidate.

Meanwhile, the NDC national leadership has not authenticated any list of successful candidates from Enugu State.

Earlier, a faction of the party in the state, led by Dr. Johnpaul Anih, had released a list of winners after the primaries, while another faction is led by Ibuchukwu Obetta. Neither list has been officially endorsed by the national leadership.